Your phrases matter: Third waves in research approaches and new contexts for formulaic language.

BACKGROUND: This study reports on new contexts in which formulaic language has been used in the years since 2013 when the last synthesis was carried out. The background presents an old but still useful definition and lists themes under which research was arranged in 2013 and which continue to be used. AIMS: This study has a particular emphasis on the relevance of formulaic language to people living with dementia. METHODS: Section 3, identifying new directions, reviews new 'third waves' of research priorities in several fields in which formulaic sequences play a major role, including sociolinguistic variation, corpus-based and corpus-driven analyses, pragmatics, human-computer interaction, and psycholinguistics, all of which are relevant to speech-language therapists. Section 4, outreach and expansions, illustrates new contributions from cognitively impaired person-to-person exchanges in online environments, recent examinations of infant- and pet-directed speech incorporating formulaic language, and online graphic explorations such as emojis. Section 5 focuses on growth of research in theoretical and clinical applications by Van Lancker Sidtis, as illustrated by references to her recent work. MAIN CONTRIBUTION: The paper's main contribution is to summarize the work on formulaic language over the last 10 years, to indicate its continued importance and relevance in ordinary conversation, and especially in allowing people living with dementia to continue to interact with others. CONCLUSION: The paper concludes by suggesting that more focus be placed on the analysis of formulaic language with an emphasis on its relevance for speech-language therapists and other clinicians. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: What is already known on the subject Research has been growing since the late 1970s and early 1980s on non-propositional language (as opposed at that time to the Chomskyan paradigm) and especially on lexical bundles, idioms, second language acquisition and multiword expressions. Studies beginning with Hughlings Jackson (1874) have been annotated through early 2012 (Wray, 2013). What this study adds This study examines 'third waves' in pragmatics, sociolinguistics and areas of neurology and speech perception contributing to what Van Lancker Sidtis (2021) calls the third wave of acceptance of the range and depth of formulaic sequences in ordinary or familiar language. What are the clinical implications of this work? Conversations with pet robots or web-based composition with emojis are but two of the developing areas built on formulaic sequences currently being used for communication interventions with persons living with dementia or other major neurocognitive disorder. Overviews of major contributions in theory and social contexts by Wray (2020, 2021) and theoretical and cognitive applications by Van Lancker Sidtis (2021) detail new areas for the study of formulaic sequences and their contributions to a range of neurocognitive disorders.

Economic impact of comorbid TBI-dementia on VA facility and non-VA facility costs, 2000-2020.

OBJECTIVE: There is evidence Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is associated with increased risk of dementia (D). We compared VA and non-VA facility costs associated with TBI+D and each diagnosis alone, relative to neither diagnosis, annually and over time, 2000-2020. METHODS: We estimated adjusted panel models of annual VHA costs in VA and non-VA facilities, stratified by age, and by TBI-dementia status. We also estimated cost for the TBI+D cohort by time since TBI and dementia diagnoses. All costs were 2021 inflation adjusted. RESULTS: Veterans <65 ($30,736) and ≥65 ($15,650) with TBI+D, while veterans <65 ($3,379) and ≥65 ($4,252) with TBI-only had higher annual total VHA costs, relative to neither diagnosis. Veterans with TBI+D < 65 ($42,864) and ≥65 ($72,424) had higher costs in years≥15 after TBI diagnosis, while <65 ($36,431) and ≥65 ($37,589) had higher costs in years ≥10 after dementia diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: The main cost driver was inpatient non-VA facility costs. Veterans had continuously increasing inpatient care costs in non-VA facilities over time since their TBI and dementia diagnoses. Given budget constraints on the VA system, quality of care in non-VA facilities warrants comparison with VA facilities to make informed decisions regarding referrals to non-VA facilities.

Can the Paro be my Buddy? Meaningful experiences from the perspectives of older adults.

This study aimed to explore meaningful experiences of older Taiwanese adults who had received a Paro (social robot) companion. Semi-structured qualitative interviews elicited the perspectives of 25 older adults living in a long-term care facility after they had interacted with an individual Paro companion for 8 weeks. Thematic analysis was used in this study as it allows for rich, detailed, and complex descriptions of qualitative data. Analysis identified four themes: Bridging my social bonds; Acting as a comfort Buddy; Relieving my emotional distress; and Encountering Paro with distancing. Although Paro's functioning has some limits, such as lacking speech, most participants expressed that the experience was positive. These findings revealed that the meaningful experiences expressed by participants at the end of the intervention with Paro might provide the value of companionship and improve interpersonal relationships for older adults in geriatric nursing.

Narrative Gerontology in Practice: Students' Experiences With Conducting Autoethnography.

This study examines the benefits of introducing autoethnographic writing as part of an ageism intervention to familiarize students with the life course. In this mixed-methods study, 186 graduate and undergraduate students conducted interviews with a grandparent or older adult and subsequently assumed the identity of the grandparent to write introductions of themselves as if they were that grandparent, using "I" statements in an online discussion forum. Most assumed grandparents were women (78.0%), and White (63.8%) with an average age of 77.3 (SD = 12.3). Emerging themes were categorized into three levels: structural, familial, and individual. The number of times a certain theme was mentioned was counted and major themes were analyzed. Findings indicated how autoethnographic reflections can promote student examination of self-awareness, cultural heritages, and personal growth. This technique is encouraging as an educational ageism intervention and warrants further adaptation and testing.

A Triangulated Qualitative Study of Veteran Decision-Making to Seek Care During Heart Failure Exacerbation: Implications of Dual Health System Use.

Among Veterans, heart failure (HF) contributes to frequent emergency department visits and hospitalization. Dual health care system use (dual use) occurs when Veterans Health Administration (VA) enrollees also receive care from non-VA sources. Mounting evidence suggests that dual use decreases efficiency and patient safety. This qualitative study used constructivist grounded theory and content analysis to examine decision making among 25 Veterans with HF, for similarities and differences between all-VA users and dual users. In general, all-VA users praised specific VA providers, called services helpful, and expressed positive capacity for managing HF. In addition, several Veterans who described inadvertent one-time non-VA health care utilization in emergent situations more closely mirrored all-VA users. By contrast, committed dual users more often reported unmet needs, nonresponse to VA requests, and faster services in non-VA facilities. However, a primary trigger for dual use was VA telephone referral for escalating symptoms, instead of care coordination or primary/specialty care problem-solving.

Views on ageing in place from relocated low­income housing residents in the US.

BACKGROUND: Ageing in place (AIP) is the ability to live in one's home and community independently, despite age, ability level or income. AIM: To elicit knowledge and feelings about AIP from low-income older adults relocated to low-income housing. METHOD: Nursing students, supervised by nursing faculty trained in research, conducted semi-structured interviews about AIP with volunteer residents living in a low-income apartment complex in the southern US. FINDINGS: Seven participants discussed common fears and worries as well as needs for AIP in low-income housing. Mental health issues were prominent. CONCLUSION: Mental health warrants consideration along with physical, social and emotional well-being in beginning to identify and address the needs of older people ageing anywhere, perhaps especially in relocated low-income older adults. This information could inform future interventions to encourage AIP in the US and potentially in other countries.

Gerotranscendence, Hope, and Coherence in the Face of Life Adversity.

Background and Purpose: Older adults are living longer and becoming more diverse. The current study examined the relationship between traumatic life events, hope, coherence, and successful aging in Black and White older adults with at least one chronic health condition, and the influence of life events on gerotranscendence. Methods: Fifty older adults from two senior centers participated. Participants completed the Successful Aging Inventory, Life Events Checklist, Herth Hope Index, and Sense of Coherence Scale. Results: Significant correlations were found between successful aging and gerotranscendence (r = .290; p = .048) and hope (r = .585; p = <.001). Simple linear regression found that Successful Aging Index (SAI) scores significantly predicted gerotranscendence (R2 = .10, F(1, 46) = 5.157, p = .028) and Herth Hope Index scores (R2 = .36, F(1, 46) = 25.850, p <.001). Higher Sense of Coherence (SoC) and Gerotranscendence Scale scores among those with no firsthand trauma experience suggest that experiencing traumatic events firsthand may adversely affect the aging process. Implications: Therefore, exploration of trauma experiences, with mental health referrals as appropriate are clinical implications to consider.

Coaxial burner system for solid-sample flame emission spectroscopy.

We present a burner system to analyze solid, inflammable samples by flame emission spectroscopy without requiring any sample preparation procedures. An acetylene-nitrous oxide burner was designed to efficiently introduce solid particles into the flame through active injection, enabling real-time elemental analysis. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were employed to study particle transport dynamics within the burner system. The emission was characterized through spectral analysis of the flame emission from copper- and iron-metal powder mixtures, demonstrating its ability to determine elemental compositions without prior sample treatment. An artificial neural network (ANN) was implemented to analyze spectral data obtained from binary Cu/Fe metal mixtures, enabling rapid and reliable identification of constituent elements with an uncertainty of σ = 2.7 mol%. The blackbody temperature could be determined in the range of 2200-2600 K with an accuracy of 7 K.

Racial/Ethnic and Geographic Disparities in Comorbid Traumatic Brain Injury-Renal Failure in US Veterans and Associated Veterans Affairs Resource Costs, 2000-2020.

Studies have identified disparities by race/ethnicity and geographic status among veterans with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and renal failure (RF). We examined the association of race/ethnicity and geographic status with RF onset in veterans with and without TBI, and the impact of disparities on Veterans Health Administration resource costs. METHODS: Demographics by TBI and RF status were assessed. We estimated Cox proportional hazards models for progression to RF and generalized estimating equations for inpatient, outpatient, and pharmacy cost annually and time since TBI + RF diagnosis, stratified by age. RESULTS: Among 596,189 veterans, veterans with TBI progressed faster to RF than those without TBI (HR 1.96). Non-Hispanic Black veterans (HR 1.41) and those in US territories (HR 1.71) progressed faster to RF relative to non-Hispanic Whites and those in urban mainland areas. Non-Hispanic Blacks (-$5,180), Hispanic/Latinos ($-4,984), and veterans in US territories (-$3,740) received fewer annual total VA resources. This was true for all Hispanic/Latinos, while only significant for non-Hispanic Black and US territory veterans < 65 years. For veterans with TBI + RF, higher total resource costs only occurred ≥ 10 years after TBI + RF diagnosis ($32,361), independent of age. Hispanic/Latino veterans ≥ 65 years received $8,248 less than non-Hispanic Whites and veterans living in US territories < 65 years received $37,514 less relative to urban veterans. CONCLUSION: Concerted efforts to address RF progression in veterans with TBI, especially in non-Hispanic Blacks and those in US territories, are needed. Importantly, culturally appropriate interventions to improve access to care for these groups should be a priority of the Department of Veterans Affairs priority for these groups.

Enhancing Access Through Language-Tailored Approach in Telehealth and Veterans Video Connect: Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Veterans Satisfaction Assessment.

INTRODUCTION: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can impact language processing, necessitating language-tailored approaches. Telehealth may expand rural Veterans' access but has unknown feasibility for language preferences. This study explored telehealth/Veterans Video Connect satisfaction for Spanish/English TBI screening. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was approved by the VA Caribbean Healthcare System Institutional Review Board and the Research and Development Committee. Mixed methods evaluated telehealth satisfaction in Veterans receiving TBI assessments from October 2021 to October 2023. Surveys included the 16-item Clinical Video Telehealth (CVT) questionnaire on communication, technical factors, coordination, and overall satisfaction, and the 21-item Telemedicine Satisfaction and Usefulness Questionnaire (TSUQ) examining usefulness, ease of use, manners, quality, and satisfaction. Mean domain/item scores were calculated among 57 Veterans, 12 English, and 45 Spanish-speaking. Semi-structured interviews also elicited user experiences from 4 providers and 5 Veterans. Transcripts underwent qualitative coding for themes using Atlas.ti.8. RESULTS: On CVT (0-5 scale), overall satisfaction averaged 4.50 (English) and 4.69 (Spanish). Lowest scoring item for English users was easy video connection (4.25), while unclear expectations had the lowest Spanish score (3.60). For TSUQ, overall mean scores were 4.50 (English) and 4.67 (Spanish), with improved health post-telehealth having the lowest average (English 3.33, Spanish 3.67). Qualitatively, Veterans and providers noted strengths like access and communication but weaknesses around connectivity, care delays, and privacy. Differences emerged regarding convenience (Veterans) versus operational barriers (providers). There was a strong positive correlation for Spanish surveys and a moderate correlation for English surveys (r = 0.71 Spanish surveys, r = 0.69 English surveys) between TSUQ and CVT for individual respondents. CONCLUSIONS: Patients conveyed positive experiences, but qualitative data revealed actionable targets for optimization like infrastructure and coordination improvements. Key limitations include small samples and lack of comparison to in-person care. Still, high satisfaction coupled with specific user feedback highlights telehealth's potential while directing enhancements. The results found high Veteran satisfaction with Spanish/English TBI telehealth, but mixed methods illuminated salient domains for better accommodating user needs, particularly regarding logistics and technology. Rigorously integrating experiences with metrics over expanded diverse samples and modalities can further guide refinements to enhance telehealth with a language-tailored approach.

An examination of successful aging among Southern Black and White older adults.

Research on successful aging in minority older adults and those from certain regions of the United States, such as the South, is lacking. It is important to learn whether disparities exist in Southern Black older adults' perceptions of successful aging compared to those of majority older adults. Thus, this study examined successful aging using focus groups to obtain a regionally and racially sensitive understanding of the phenomenon. Focus group sessions were facilitated with Southern Black and White older adults with questions on successful aging, using content analysis to interpret the findings. Four central themes were found: Connecting and Relating; Temporality; Perception and Interpretation; and Activity. Beliefs and decisions about managing oneself through life events, including health problems and disability, may have a major influence on the trajectory of progressive, chronic illness, and consequently, successful aging.

Developing culturally diverse direct caregivers for care work with older adults: challenges and potential strategies.

This discussion presents real-world examples of challenges that occur in geriatric training as a contribution to the ongoing conversation about tailored training for direct caregivers. Numerous discussions are available on the need for more geriatric training in nursing, including aspects of care for patients with dementia, but few if any studies have identified a similar need on behalf of direct care workers, including home health care aides,personal care aides, and nursing assistants who are not part of a licensure track or a baccalaureate-based nursing curriculum. This discussion examines three cultural factors that underlie challenges for nursing educators and supervisors in dementia care who oversee direct care workers: (1) the effect of immigrant cultures and languages; (2) the effect of different intergenerational cultural constructs; and (3) the effect of culturally derived attitudes about aging and dementia. Strategies to address these challenges are offered.

COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Among Parents: A Qualitative Study.

OBJECTIVES: Addressing parental/caregivers' coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine hesitancy is critical to improving vaccine uptake in children. Common concerns have been previously reported through online surveys, but qualitative data from KII and focus groups may add much-needed context. Our objective was to examine factors impacting pediatric COVID-19 vaccine decision-making in Black, Spanish-speaking, and rural white parents/caregivers to inform the content design of a mobile application to improve pediatric COVID-19 vaccine uptake. METHODS: Parents/caregivers of children aged 2 to 17 years from groups disproportionately affected by COVID-19-related vaccine hesitancy (rural-dwelling persons of any race/ethnicity, urban Black persons, and Spanish-speaking persons) were included on the basis of their self-reported vaccine hesitancy and stratified by race/ethnicity. Those expressing vaccine acceptance or refusal participated in KII, and those expressing hesitancy in focus groups. Deidentified transcripts underwent discourse analysis and thematic analysis, both individually and as a collection. Themes were revised until coders reached consensus. RESULTS: Overall, 36 participants completed the study: 4 vaccine acceptors and 4 refusers via KIIs, and the remaining 28 participated in focus groups. Participants from all focus groups expressed that they would listen to their doctor for information about COVID-19 vaccines. Infertility was a common concern, along with general concerns about vaccines. Vaccine decision-making was informed by the amount of information available to parents/caregivers, including scientific research; possible positive and negative long-term effects; and potential impacts of vaccination on preexisting medical conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Parents/caregivers report numerous addressable vaccine concerns. Our results will inform specific, targeted interventions for improving COVID-19 vaccine confidence.

Cryptogenic Organizing Pneumonia: A Unique Case and Literature Review.

Pneumonia is one of the most common pathologies seen in the inpatient setting. The rapid response to treat febrile patients with infiltrates on chest x-ray has reduced hospital length of stay and hospital costs. However, the automatic reaction to treat all infiltrates and opacities seen on a chest x-ray as pneumonia can be costly. This report presents the case of a patient suspected initially of having pneumonia, who was unresponsive to broad-spectrum antibiotics. A 58-year-old woman presented with dyspnea on exertion and a nonproductive cough. Her chest x-ray showed dense right-sided coalescent opacities encompassing the entirety of the right lung. Flexible bronchoscopy biopsy specimens revealed the cause to be cryptogenic organizing pneumonia. This case highlights the diverse set of pulmonary pathologies that can mimic pneumonia and should be suspected in cases of antibiotic-resistant suspected pneumonia patients.

Enhancing Language Access: A Pilot Study to Examine the Importance of Understanding the Language Preference and Acculturalization Level in the Provision of Healthcare for Hispanics Veterans With Traumatic Brain Injury.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this pilot study was to obtain preliminary data to culturally adapt the Veteran Health Administration Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) assessment instruments for the Hispanic Veteran population. A qualitative analysis explored the cognitive processes used by Hispanic Veterans whose preferred language was Spanish to understand a specific set of screening questions within the Initial TBI Screening, the Comprehensive TBI Evaluation, the Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory (NSI), and the La Trobe Communication Questionnaire (LTCQ). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A certified translator completed translation of the TBI instruments, an expert panel resolved inadequate expressions of the translations, and translated instruments were back translated. Male and female Hispanic Veterans with a positive TBI screening underwent a recorded administration of the TBI instruments, including LTCQ, followed by systematic debriefing using semi-structured cognitive interviews which then underwent qualitative analysis. The Marin's Short Acculturation Scale for Hispanics, the Tropp's Psychological Acculturation Scale, the English-Language Proficiency Test Series, and the TBI Demographic and Language Preference interview were administered to the subjects. RESULTS: Fifteen subjects were enrolled for the TBI instruments intervention; 11 of them completed all the additional procedures. The TBI instruments intervention seemed to produce very few variations, indicating adequate cultural equivalence. However, the LTCQ instrument showed suggested cultural variations, but did not suggest a lack of understanding or misinterpretation. The population studied displayed preferential connectedness to the Hispanic/Latino culture and to the Spanish language. The LTCQ indicated that subjects perceived themselves as having a worse execution in terms of communication skills than historical control and TBI groups. English-Language Proficiency Test Series found that most of the subject population did not demonstrate mastery of grade-appropriate basic social and academic vocabulary in English. CONCLUSION: Current findings highlight the importance of using linguistically and culturally appropriate materials upon evaluating Hispanic Veterans with a suspected TBI who have Spanish as their primary or preferred language.

Twelve important minutes: introducing enhanced online materials about elder abuse to nursing assistants.

A pilot project introduced 12 minutes of text and video materials and a reflective online interaction about elder abuse into the online component of a hybrid course in nursing assistant training leading to certification. Didactic presentations on issues of ethics and standards had been given in two different units of the face-to-face component of the course using both the course textbook and an online module keyed to state certification standards. However, student responses suggested that their online writing to each other about the new materials brought issues of elder abuse to the forefront in ways that they could finally internalize.

Institutionalized ghosting: policy contexts and language use in erasing the person with Alzheimer's.

The ordinary social engagement of human life would not usually be considered an arena for language policy. Yet clinical evidence mounts that social interaction improves our lives as we age. Since social engagement decreases cardiovascular risks (Ramsay et al. in Ann Epidemiol 18:476-483, 2008) and delays memory loss among those living in communities (Ertel et al. in Am J Public Health 98:1215-1220, 2008), practices that prohibit social interaction threaten human well-being. For persons who have Alzheimer's disease (AD), social interaction continues to play an integral part in cognitive function and delays in memory loss, according to a longitudinal study of social networks (Bennett et al. in Lancet Neurol 5:406-412, 2007). Increasingly, person-centered care that promotes social engagement for those with AD is promoted as an institutional policy to improve outcomes of dementia care (Edvardsson et al. in Int Psychogeriatr 20:764-776, 2008). Yet the training of caregivers may neither reflect person-centered care nor include attention to communication, suggesting covert policies in practice.

Investigating the Feasibility of Using Telemedicine to Deliver a Fall Prevention Program: A Pilot Study.

AIM: This pilot study was designed to examine the feasibility of using telemedicine to deliver a fall prevention program, a modified Otago exercise program, to low-income older adults living independently in affordable housing apartments. METHODS: A mixed-methods feasibility study. Participants were divided into two groups: one group participated in a 12-week modified Otago fall prevention program via telehealth, while the other group participated in the program with an on-site instructor. Performance-based measures of physical function and self-report measures for self-efficacy for exercise and social connectedness were collected pre- and post-intervention and 1 year later. RESULTS: All participants completed the 12-week intervention and expressed satisfaction with both the telehealth program and the on-site instructor-led program. There were no major differences in performance or self-report measures between the two groups, showing that telehealth-delivered applications can be effective. Participants in the on-site instructor-led group performed slightly better on performance-based measures, while those in the telehealth group scored higher on self-report measures of self-efficacy and social network scales. CONCLUSION: A telehealth-delivered exercise program that includes strength and balance exercises and walking was feasible to conduct with a small group of low-income older adults living in a community-based apartment complex. Recruitment and retention of participants for the study was successful, and participants expressed satisfaction with the intervention whether conducted in-person or via telehealth.

Examining pauses in Alzheimer's discourse.

This discussion examines how speaker pauses, both filled and silent, are keyed to functions within a conversation and to functions within narration. In Alzheimer's discourse, pause-fillers can be both placeholders and hesitation markers; they may be ohs and ums or longer formulaic phrases. Extracts from the speech of 4 older women from the United States and from New Zealand are reviewed for changes in syntactic complexity, for retention of story components, and for pauses. The extracts illustrate these functions for silent pauses: as word-finding; as planning at word, phrase, and narrative component levels; and as pragmatic compensation as other interactional and narrative skills decrease.